Asian Horror

January 17, 2011
This survey of Asian horror movies is unlikely to work either for the casual filmgoer or the devoted fan. Orotund pronouncements ("Godzilla demonstrates that a giant monster movie is one of the most effective ways of dramatizing social, political and ecological crises") are coupled with sketchy summaries of dozens of movies from the last 50 years and uneven commentary. While Richards clearly has an exhaustive knowledge of his subject matter, his expertise shines through most clearly in an introductory chapter about the view of supernatural forces in Eastern culture that manages to convey a lot of useful information in just four pages. Readers unfamiliar with the films discussed are likely to find too little information about their plots to make an intelligent decision about whether they are worth their while, and his "verdicts" ("Splatter hounds have a host of creatively executed gougings, garrottings, impalements and decapitations to enjoy") aren't sophisticated or detailed enough.

November 1, 2010

Asian horror films have become popular worldwide. Hollywood remade such films as The Grudge, The Ring, and Dark Water for American audiences, creating a new brand of horror films. Film journalist Richards here gives a brief history of the Asian markets, concentrating mainly on Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. The films are organized by country then divided into sections. Each entry describes the story, offers detailed background on the myths on which the film is based, and analyzes the film and its impact. Richards begins with Godzilla, which mirrored the horrors of World War II and the aftermath of the atomic bomb through malevolent beings. Many of these films are more graphic and violent than the American remakes and are quite successful internationally. VERDICT Fans of Asian horror will enjoy the descriptive text and the list of essential films to watch. A good purchase for any film collection.--Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2010
In this look at the history and influence of Asian horror cinema, Richards begins by tracing the genre's origins back to the end of the nineteenth century and explaining how the modern Asian horror film began after the end of WWIIshowing, for example, how the Japanese monster movie cycle of the 1950s, which began with Godzilla, reflected and reenacted the destruction of the war, the mutant monsters being reminders of the horrors of radiation damage and environmental pollution. With the scene set, Richards discusses various examples in a simple, orderly format: a brief description of the story followed by background on the films production and a verdict assessing the movies influence and importance. Some of the movies will be familiar to Western readersGodzilla, The Ring, The Grudgebut others probably wont. The book isnt for casual readers, however, but rather for serious horror-film fans. That crowd will have a ball reliving some of the genres greatest havoc-wreakers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)